Pepe Martí Triumphs Again in Thrilling Formula 2 Race

In a gripping showdown at the 2025 Formula 2 season, Campos Racing’s Pepe Martí clinched his third victory, narrowly outpacing Alex Dunne in a fierce competition that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last lap. The race showcased not only the drivers’ skills but also their strategic thinking regarding tire management—an area where Dunne has consistently excelled.

The Race Start and Initial Positioning

Martí, who started from the reverse-grid pole position, executed a flawless launch off the starting grid, securing his lead as the drivers approached Turn 1. Meanwhile, Dunne struggled to gain momentum at the start, allowing Arvid Lindblad to slip by and take second place. Dunne faced additional pressure from Victor Martins, who attempted to overtake but ultimately failed to make the pass, allowing Dunne to retain third position.

As the first lap unfolded, an incident occurred when Gabriele Minì collided with Roman Staněk’s car at Turn 9, resulting in Staněk spinning out and losing valuable positions. The stewards deemed Minì at fault, subsequently handing him a 10-second time penalty for the mishap.

Mid-Race Dynamics

By the second lap, Richard Verschoor, a title contender who started from the 11th position, moved up by passing his MP Motorsport teammate, Oliver Goethe, on the outside of Turn 2. Ahead of them, Luke Browning managed to overtake championship leader Leonardo Fornaroli, moving into sixth place.

As the race progressed to lap six, a significant DRS train formed, with Martins in fourth and Staněk in 19th, illustrating the competitive nature of the field. Lindblad, demonstrating impressive pace, began to close in on Martí, who was leading the race. The tension reached a peak at the start of lap eight when Lindblad executed a daring maneuver to take the lead at Turn 1. However, Martí quickly retaliated, reclaiming his position by the time they reached Turn 2.

Reflecting on the intense battle with his teammate Lindblad, Martí stated, “We know it’s a tire degradation race, so I wasn’t overly concerned. I recognized that if Arvid was pushing hard at the beginning, it would work to my advantage later. When he made his move, it was a solid attempt at Turn 1, and I was able to recover well in Turn 2, so it was fair racing.”

The skirmish between the Campos teammates allowed Dunne to re-enter the battle for the lead, particularly as Lindblad struggled to maintain pace on lap 14, losing DRS assistance from Martí.

Dunne’s Tire Management Skills Shine

The pivotal moment of the race came at the start of lap 19 when Dunne executed a late-braking maneuver to overtake Lindblad at Turn 1. Lindblad’s tires had deteriorated significantly from the earlier tussle with Martí, which facilitated Dunne’s pass.

Dunne spoke about his tire management prowess, stating, “It’s something that I’ve always been comfortable with. Our car seems to perform better in hotter conditions. We don’t necessarily change our approach; it’s more about feeling at ease in these scenarios and being able to adapt effectively.”

Martí maintained his lead throughout the 28 laps, despite Dunne and Lindblad’s persistent challenges. His ability to fend off competitors under pressure was critical in securing his victory.

The Safety Car Incident

As the race approached lap 22, an unexpected development occurred when a safety car was deployed due to Sebastián Montoya’s car being stranded on the start-finish straight. This incident closed the pit entry, preventing drivers from making strategic tire changes to softer compounds for the concluding laps.

While under the safety car, an unusual situation unfolded as Martí slowed just before the finish line, nearly allowing Dunne to draw alongside him. Dunne had to maneuver quickly to avoid a collision. Following the race, both drivers were summoned for a review regarding their conduct during the yellow flag period, but the stewards found no wrongdoing on either party’s part.

Resuming the Race and Final Laps

Racing resumed on lap 26 with only three laps remaining for drivers to make their final moves. Crawford, who had been closely trailing Lindblad, immediately sought to overtake. Their battle intensified, culminating on the final lap when Crawford executed an outside maneuver at Turn 1. Both drivers raced side by side heading into Turn 2, but Crawford managed to secure the position, showcasing his determination and skill.

“It was a bit rough at times,” Crawford commented on the intense battle. “It felt like he was swerving everywhere I tried to go. Once I realized he was defending so hard, I knew I had to wait until the end when his tires were at their limit, and I could catch him.”

As the race approached its thrilling conclusion, Dunne was relentless in his pursuit of Martí, attempting to overtake him on the penultimate corner. However, Martí defended his position well, allowing him to maintain a slim lead. Ultimately, Martí crossed the finish line first, winning by a mere 0.225 seconds and also setting the fastest lap of the race on lap 27.

Post-Race Developments and Penalties

While Martí celebrated his hard-fought victory, Lindblad managed to hold on to fourth place as the race concluded, but he was later penalized with a five-second time penalty for gaining an unfair advantage by leaving the track during his earlier battle with Martins. This penalty dropped him to 10th place post-race.

Browning, who finished fifth after passing Martins on the restart, also faced a five-second penalty for cutting the Turn 6–7 chicane on the final lap. Despite this, Martins ultimately claimed fourth place after penalties were applied, marking his fifth top-five finish of the season. Fornaroli, despite a lock-up at Turn 1 on lap 27, held on to fifth, expanding his points lead over Verschoor by a single point.

In the final standings, Goethe crossed the line in seventh place, while Beganovic secured eighth, the last points-paying position, following Lindblad’s penalty. Maini and Lindblad rounded out the top 10, with Browning officially classified in 12th due to his penalty.

Conclusion

Pepe Martí’s victory in this thrilling Formula 2 race highlights not only his skill but also the intense competition and strategic elements that define the sport. As the season progresses, the battles for the championship continue to heat up, with teams and drivers constantly adapting to the ever-changing dynamics on the track. The race was a testament to resilience, strategy, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence in the world of motorsport.